EVENTING Ryans to Lead the Irish Assault at Badminton

Husband-and-wife duo Michael and Patricia Ryan will be first over the line for Ireland tomorrow (Friday) when the 2010 Badminton Three Day Event kicks off with the vital four-star dressage test.

Nine Irish riders in total will take part in the UK's largest outdoor sporting event this weekend, when a quarter of a million spectators are expected to turn out at the Duke of Beaufort's estate in Gloucestershire for one of only five HSBC World Cup Qualifiers to be held globally this year.

Bandon, Co. Cork-based Michael Ryan and the Irish-bred gelding 'Old Road' start their dressage test at 10.16 am, followed by wife Patricia and the Irish-bred 'Fernhill Clover Mist' at 11.42am.

Other members of the Irish contingent who will compete in Friday's dressage phase are 20 year-old Badminton first-timer Camilla Speirs with 'Portersize Just A Jiff', last weekend's Scone Palace winner Mark Kyle and 'Step In Time' and Sacha Pemble with 'I've Been Dun'.

Because of the large numbers of international entries from 12 countries, Badminton's dressage test runs into Saturday, when Ireland's Austin O'Connor and 'Pocket Rocket' compete at 9.28 am, followed by Elizabeth Power with 'Kilpatrick River', Sam Watson and 'Horseware Bushman' and Capt. Geoff Curran with 'Balladeer Alfred'.

The cross-country phase of Badminton will be held on Sunday, followed by the show jumping test on Monday, and this will be broadcast live by BBC television.

Updates on the Irish performances will be available in real time on the Horse Sport Ireland website www.horsesportireland.ie and via Horse Sport Ireland's Facebook page and Twitter service.